cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye

cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye

A vow that one is being truthful. Billy's the one who broke the cookie jar—cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye! A: "Did you take that money?" B: "No, cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye!" No, I didn't tattle on you to the teacher—cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye!

See also: and, cross, eye, heart, hope, needle, stick, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

cross my heart and hope to die

Attest to the truth of something; solemnly assure someone that the truth has been spoken. For example, I did lock the door-cross my heart and hope to die! This phrase most likely originated as a religious oath based on the sign of the cross; it is generally accompanied by hand gestures such as crossing one's hands over one's breast and then pointing the right hand skyward (a variant is cross my heart and point to God). Today most often uttered by children, it was first recorded in 1908.

See also: and, cross, die, heart, hope, to

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.